Dark Matter album reviews

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  • tbergs
    tbergs Posts: 10,502
    bicyclejoe said:
    Haijay said:
    PJ_Soul said:
    I am so so pleased to say that I dig this album!!! I haven't felt this about a new PJ album for 18 years, so it's pretty great to have the feeling back finally.
    So why did you hang on so long? Surely Imagine Dragons has a forum🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
    That seems really unnecessary. He made a positive comment as part an honest observation of where his relationship with this band its music sits. There’s no need to bully him. 
    She. PJ_Soul is not a he. Not that you would necessarily know that. 
    It's a hopeless situation...
  • Johnny Abruzzo
    Johnny Abruzzo Philly Posts: 12,542
    Haijay said:
    Johnny Abruzzo said:
    Haijay said:
    PJ_Soul said:
    Haijay said:
    PJ_Soul said:
    I am so so pleased to say that I dig this album!!! I haven't felt this about a new PJ album for 18 years, so it's pretty great to have the feeling back finally.
    So why did you hang on so long? Surely Imagine Dragons has a forum🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

    Lol... are you having a nice day today?
    FABULOUS!!! I love being alive, dont you? 
    I just dont get why people on here say they havent liked anything since Yield or so, yet they live on here, and continually let the rest of us know their stance on the music. Not saying you, specifically.  Whatev, really couldn’t care less
    I liked the last 3 albums to varying degrees but this is my favorite since Avocado, which reignited my PJ love. 
    Awesome. So you didn't care for Binaural or Riot Act?  
    Did not care for Riot Act when it came out. I still say it’s tough to get through it. Several of the songs are much better live at least. 
    Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; Phila, PA 10/21/13; Phila,  PA 10/22/13; Baltimore Arena 10/27/13; Phila, PA 4/28/16; Phila, PA 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; Phila, PA 9/7/24; Phila, PA 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24; Pittsburgh 5/16/25; Pittsburgh 5/18/25

    Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
  • alexross42
    alexross42 Posts: 377
    Johnny Abruzzo said:


    Anyone hear the Not For You riff in the beginning of Got to Give???
    Absolutely, that similarity stuck out on the first listen, had Vitalogy vibes all over it, speaking of which the outro/bridge part of Wreckage (from 3:18) sounds to me like a cousin of the bridge from Corduroy...
    My Music, 'Crowd of Oaks' - Spotify | Bandcamp

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  • opsopcopolis
    opsopcopolis Posts: 1,214
    edited April 2024
    Haven't read through the whole thread (though I did see, and share goldrush's opinion from a page or two ago), but kinda feeling like I'm one of the only ones who's less than blown away by the record in general and that the community as a whole is being pretty aggressive towards people with less than stellar opinions...

    I'm finding it generally lacking in memorable and exciting hooks, both instrumental and melodic. The opening pair + the title track are really the only songs that I find sticking in my head at all, and don't really find myself excited to keep listening. A lot of it is very samey, lots of very similar tempos and same keys, kinda hokey major songs and I'm finding a lot of bits that are too similar to other recent works (earthlings, gigaton, etc...) for them to feel new/exciting. 

    It's an unfortunate feeling. I've never been bummed by a PJ record on first listen, and I was super excited, especially after Dark Matter the single was released, but to me that's the most interesting song by a significant margin. I'm sure it'll grow on me over time, but definitely not my favorite after a handful of listens. 
    Post edited by opsopcopolis on
    2006: Hartford
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    2010: Hartford
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    2018: Prague, Krakow, Berlin, Boston x2
    2022: San Diego, Sacramento, Las Vegas
  • Haijay
    Haijay Posts: 456
    bicyclejoe said:
    Haijay said:
    PJ_Soul said:
    I am so so pleased to say that I dig this album!!! I haven't felt this about a new PJ album for 18 years, so it's pretty great to have the feeling back finally.
    So why did you hang on so long? Surely Imagine Dragons has a forum🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
    That seems really unnecessary. He made a positive comment as part an honest observation of where his relationship with this band its music sits. There’s no need to bully him. 
    Is it July yet? When you’re not renewing, like 15 plus years ago when you said it…….🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
  • beano.79
    beano.79 Posts: 791
    edited April 2024
    Not much of a review but a few thoughts..

    I like 10 out of 11 songs

    Lots of loud guitar parts which I'm yet to digest which is great.

    Not keen on the production especially on Stevie. which is actually my favourite so far

    I do like longer albums but I'd like this more at 44mins minus something special.

    Saying that, maybe in a couple of months even that song will sit a little better amongst the rest

    One last thought... I'm really glad for got to give, it's great to have a rockier song right near the end, because of this the last sounds like release after the tension
    Post edited by beano.79 on
  • HenriettaLowell
    HenriettaLowell Cologne, Germany Posts: 140
    I also like 10 out of 11 songs, but it‘s a different one for me (Won‘t Tell, no pun intended). I‘m a sucker for slightly sentimental, melodic little PJ gems like Parachutes or Buckle Up, so I don‘t mind Something Special at all.
  • HenriettaLowell
    HenriettaLowell Cologne, Germany Posts: 140
    Does any one else get an Oasis / Noel Gallagher feel out of Waiting For Stevie?
  • southernmanfan
    southernmanfan Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 1,029
    So I’ve just completed my third listen and this time on my headphones. 

    I like it. My first listen standouts were Scared of Fear, Wreckage, Running and Something Special. 

    The album is compact and tightly produced with the Watt signature. Would be great to see these tracks live. 

    I’m just glad there is new Pearl Jam music. 

    Well done guys! 
    rustedsigns
  • beano.79
    beano.79 Posts: 791
    HenriettaLowell said:
    Does any one else get an Oasis / Noel Gallagher feel out of Waiting For Stevie?
    Yes but not exclusively oasis... It's got a very British 90's epic Indie rock sound, bit of The Verve and Embrace (all you good good people)  also, and quite shoe gaze.

    It doesn't sound like them but definitely reminds of of that, has that spirit
  • bicyclejoe
    bicyclejoe USA Posts: 1,203
    HenriettaLowell said:
    Does any one else get an Oasis / Noel Gallagher feel out of Waiting For Stevie?
    Yes.
    My Pearl Jam Road: 10/22/90 Seattle | 12/22/90 Seattle, Moore Theater | 9/29/92 Seattle, Magnusson Park, Drop in the Park | 9/5/93 The Gorge, with Neil Young and Blind Melon | 7/20/06 Portland, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with Sleater-Kinney | 7/22/06 The Gorge, 10/21/06 Mountain View, Shoreline Ampitheatre, Bridge School Benefit | 9/21/09 Seattle | 9/22/09 Seattle | 9/26/09 Portland, OR | 7/14/2011 Eddie Vedder, Portland, OR | 11/29/13 Portland, OR
  • bicyclejoe
    bicyclejoe USA Posts: 1,203
    tbergs said:
    bicyclejoe said:
    Haijay said:
    PJ_Soul said:
    I am so so pleased to say that I dig this album!!! I haven't felt this about a new PJ album for 18 years, so it's pretty great to have the feeling back finally.
    So why did you hang on so long? Surely Imagine Dragons has a forum🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
    That seems really unnecessary. She made a positive comment as part an honest observation of where her relationship with this band and its music sits. There’s no need to bully her. 
    She. PJ_Soul is not a he. Not that you would necessarily know that. 
    Fixed. Thank you. Apologies to @PJ_Soul
    My Pearl Jam Road: 10/22/90 Seattle | 12/22/90 Seattle, Moore Theater | 9/29/92 Seattle, Magnusson Park, Drop in the Park | 9/5/93 The Gorge, with Neil Young and Blind Melon | 7/20/06 Portland, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall with Sleater-Kinney | 7/22/06 The Gorge, 10/21/06 Mountain View, Shoreline Ampitheatre, Bridge School Benefit | 9/21/09 Seattle | 9/22/09 Seattle | 9/26/09 Portland, OR | 7/14/2011 Eddie Vedder, Portland, OR | 11/29/13 Portland, OR
  • HenriettaLowell
    HenriettaLowell Cologne, Germany Posts: 140
    beano.79 said:
    HenriettaLowell said:
    Does any one else get an Oasis / Noel Gallagher feel out of Waiting For Stevie?
    Yes but not exclusively oasis... It's got a very British 90's epic Indie rock sound, bit of The Verve and Embrace (all you good good people)  also, and quite shoe gaze.

    It doesn't sound like them but definitely reminds of of that, has that spirit
    Yes, also that hymnic quality of bands like Manic Street Preachers or The Charlatans. Very British for sure
  • Hankj25
    Hankj25 Posts: 388
    Everybody has their tastes and feels, but here’s mine.  First off, I agree that this is the best album since Avocado.  I think it’s got 11 songs that all have a place, there is no Johnny Guitar, River Cross, Buckle Up on it.  

    I’m through it about 5 times.

    My tiers are

    Really good:  React, Scared, Stevie, DM, Running, Got to Give
    Solid:  Wreckage, Setting Sun, Something Special
    Decent: Upper Hand, Won’t Tell

    there’s no turds on it.  Unlike Gigaton, there isn’t an auto skip song (or two).  Even my bottom 2 songs are ones I like.  

    For a band 33 years into it, this is an amazing album.  Really fortunate that my favorite band can put out music that still excites me.  
    Seattle 8-8-18
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    EV
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  • Hankj25
    Hankj25 Posts: 388
    One thing has become clear in the later years. Ed’s voice is different and I think he tries a little too hard at times to compensate for that missing element of PJ by getting wordy, or by over enunciating some lyrics.

    I agree with several who have said that it can overshadow some of the music at times.  Part of what made this band what they are is Ed’s voice when he was in his 30’s.  Gigaton felt like the band trying to figure out how to make songs with a different sound.  This album feels more like they’ve figured it out.  
    Seattle 8-8-18
    Chicago 8-18-18
    Chicago 8-20-18
    St. Louis 4-4-20
    Denver 4-9-20
    Denver 9-22-22
    Noblesville 9-10-23
    Vancouver 5-6-24
    Seattle 5-30-24
    Nashville 5-6-25


    EV
    Chicago 2-9-22
    Tempe 2-26-23
  • opsopcopolis
    opsopcopolis Posts: 1,214
    Hankj25 said:
    Gigaton felt like the band trying to figure out how to make songs with a different sound.  This album feels more like they’ve figured it out.  
    Id almost say the opposite. This record feels more like a move in the other direction. From the more composed and arranged experimenting with sounds/styles to a record made more out of in the moment studio jamming
    2006: Hartford
    2008: Camden 2, Hartford
    2010: Hartford
    2013: Wrigley, Worcester x2, Hartford
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    2016: Philly 2, MSG x2, Boston 2, (TOTD Philly 2, MSG)
    2018: Prague, Krakow, Berlin, Boston x2
    2022: San Diego, Sacramento, Las Vegas
  • May 30th
    May 30th Posts: 1,913
    opsopcopolis said:
    Hankj25 said:
    Gigaton felt like the band trying to figure out how to make songs with a different sound.  This album feels more like they’ve figured it out.  
    Id almost say the opposite. This record feels more like a move in the other direction. From the more composed and arranged experimenting with sounds/styles to a record made more out of in the moment studio jamming
    Totally agree 
  • evenflow82
    evenflow82 Posts: 3,892
    Songs are great. Production is compressed and brickwalled to the absolute max. Whew. 
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  • HenriettaLowell
    HenriettaLowell Cologne, Germany Posts: 140
    Not a fan of the production either, as expected. Can‘t wait to hear the songs unfold live!
  • nicknyr15
    nicknyr15 Posts: 9,445
    Easily 8/10. Loving it. Couldn’t be happier. I was one of the few who couldn’t get into Gigaton at all so I’m so happy with how good DM is. 

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